Is Your Injury All in Your Head?

Season 2 of Running to the Castle Podcast w/ Dr. Ali Marty

Episode 165 Why do I always get injured when training runDisney Races

In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali tackles the question “Is your injury all in your head?” and answers with a firm no. 

Using a listener’s calf-pain story as a springboard, she explains how real physiology (sensitized tissues, nerve-related pain, and conditions like CRPS) can persist even when basic imaging looks “normal,” and why stress fractures often require MRI, not X-rays, to diagnose. 

Drawing on her own experience with orthostatic hypotension and her physical therapy practice, Dr. Ali shows how lack of targeted rehab (e.g., after hip replacement) can leave nerves and soft tissues reactive, fueling long-term pain that’s too often dismissed. 

She then introduces her Finisher Framework—six pillars that stop the injury cycle: strength work, smart training structure, stretching/mobility, rest and recovery, footwear/equipment, and fueling/hydration—emphasizing that most runners don’t need “more” of everything; they need the right thing. 

Finally, she flags over-racing and under-resting (like stacking five half marathons in two years) as a common setup for recurring injuries and urges listeners to seek proper assessment and a tailored plan instead of pushing through pain.